WILD LIFE ACROSS THE WORLD 



a similar fate awaited some of them, and it was only 

 with the greatest difficulty I persuaded them to stay. 

 Needless to say, my feelings towards their informants 

 were not altogether kindly. 



The next day one of the most interesting characters 

 in the country camped next to me, and came over to 

 tea. This was a woman in man's attire, and proved 

 to be Pioneer Mary— truly a wonderful woman. She 

 walked from Mombasa to Lake Victoria before the 

 railway was made and told me some hair-raising stories. 

 She was the first white woman to enter the country, 

 and used to go up to Abyssinia by herself on trading 

 expeditions. Alas ! she died a year ago, and is now 

 sleeping in the land she adopted, but her name will live. 



By the time I had bought extra stores and secured 

 the additional carriers I needed everyone seemed ready 

 enough to start. Judging by their expressions and 

 the songs they chanted all my followers were happy 

 enough. We marched, as usual, in single file. At 

 the head of the procession were KilHnjui, Natungo, 

 Booby and Kavirondo, carrying cameras and allied 

 gear ; then Mahomed, Ero my spearman, and the 

 gun-bearer. Mahomed was in his glory. He was 

 always a very great personage, at least in his own 

 estimation, but on this occasion his glory was enhanced 

 by the fact that he was wearing an old pair of my 

 boots, which were at least four sizes too large for him. 

 Before he had covered many miles, however, all his 



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